Clinical importance of thyroid perocidase autoantibodies determination in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Pregnant women with positive thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies [TPO-Ab] have an increased risk for developing postpartum thyroiditis [PPT]. Eighty clinically healthy pregnant women in third trimester were screened for TPO-Ab titres by radio-immunoassay [RIA] technique and were followed 3-4 months postpartum. During pregnancy TPO-Ab seropositivity was seen in 17.5% cases. Serum thyroxine [T] and thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] levels done only in seropositive cases were within normal limits. After follow-up 21.25% cases showed TPO-Ab seropositivity 3-4 months postpartum. The rise in TPO-Ab titre was very significant in 23.5% of seropositive case [5% of the total] who developed mild thyrotoxic phase of PPT. Serum T levels were increased above normal limits while serum TSH levels were decreased in them along with the clinical findings. Twenty nonpregnant women were included in the study as controls who were all seronegative for TPO-Ab showing significantly high prevalence of TPO-Ab during pregnancy [P<0.001]